Yes? No?

“Yes, no, maybe so–Yes, no, maybe so.” When I was a young girl with questions for my mother, that was often her response. Can I? May I? “Yes. no, maybe so.” I caught on to her tactic. She was undecided. She did not want to jump to a conclusion and did not want to just say no. A woman of diplomacy she was!

Meanwhile, I recently watched a video about the word NO. The star of the video was Dominique Sachse, a television news personality from the Houston area. She often posts fashion and beauty videos sharing her ideas and experiences–advice for those of us who may not be 40- something any longer. ( I chuckle.) On this video she was expressing that she did not prepare for an expected video her followers might look for because her time was limited due to some piled up obligations this week. In her different type of video she asked the provocative question, “What is the price tag for saying yes too often?

Some of us have a tendency to spread out our day over too many obligations. We said yes to the church project, we said yes to help the neighbor, we said yes to helping with an event, we said yes to going somewhere when all that was desired to do that evening was to curl up with a book. Covid swept in and cleared our calendars for many months; so many months that many of us felt our lives were blank pages on which to write. We are back to being busier– a little at a time. According to Sachse, we should try to be more discerning, more selective of how we spend our days.

When I am super busy, what am I neglecting? From whom do I feel distant when I am off doing and being and …whatever.

Am I sacrificing family time? Am I sacrificing couple’s time? Am I giving up something I REALLY wanted to do in place of something I felt pressured to do? Are you aware it is okay to say, “No.” It is okay to step away from the TO DO list.

Recently a friend reminded me of a Mormon Tabernacle YouTube video of the magnificent choir singing an amazing piece called SLOW DOWN. The lyrics and the video are below.

SAYING NO TO THE EXTRAS MIGHT JUST ALLOW FOR YOUR HEART AND MIND TO BE OPEN TO GOD’S MESSAGES FOR YOUR DAY.

In the midst of my confusion
In the time of desperate need
When I am thinking not too clearly
A gentle voice does intercede –Slow down, slow down, be still
Be still and wait, on the Spirit of the Lord
Slow down and hear His voice
And know that He is God

In the time of tribulation
When I’m feeling so unsure
When things are pressing in about me
Comes a gentle voice so still, so pure –Slow down, slow down, be still, my child
Be still and wait, on the Spirit of the Lord
Slow down and hear His voice
And know that He is God.
And know that He is God.